Chemical Peels

Pre and Post Care

Chemical Peel Prep

The success of your  peel treatment begins with some prep work. Here’s what to do before you come in to your appointment at GOLDCOAST Medspa to help ensure you get the most out of your treatment.

Dos

1. Address Broken Skin

Hold off on getting a peel until any cuts or other skin woes have healed.

2. Prevent Sunburn

Similarly, you don’t want to apply a peel to compromised, sunburned skin. To prep for a peel and for general skin health, wear a broad-spectrum SPF of 30 or higher every day to protect your skin from the sun’s damaging ultraviolet (UV) rays, and reapply at least every two hours.

3. Moisturize Your Skin

If your skin is dry, tight and flaky, you might experience discomfort during and after your peel. To minimize this keep the skin hydrated and moisturized during the days leading up to treatment with an emollient rich  moisturizer that soothes, hydrates and protects.

Do Not

1. Use Exfoliants

Temporarily discontinue using any products containing Retinol, AHA/BHA exfoliating acids or physical scrub exfoliants for a minimum of 48 hours before your peel to prevent over-exfoliation of the skin.

2. Do Not Wax Your Skin

Avoid waxing for at least 1 week before your peel.

3. Do Not Self-Tan

Avoid tanning beds, self tanning sprays, lotions prior to your treatment to avoid irritation

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Chemical Peel Aftercare

Skin care after an in office chemical peel is crucial to achieving optimal results.

Dos

1. Use Gentle Skin Care Products

When it comes to skin care after a professional peel, stick to gentle formulas that won’t irritate or dry your freshly exfoliated skin. Use gentle skincare with no actives to ensure your skin stays calm, soothed and hydrated following your treatment.

Some examples available at GOLDCOAST Medspa –

PCA SKIN Facial Wash – a gentle cleanser that doesn’t strip the skin
CliniCalm 1% – a soothing treatment with 1% maximum strength hydrocortisone
Hydrator Plus Broad Spectrum SPF – sun protection
ReBalance – gentle moisturizer
Collagen Hydrator –  a rich moisturizer that hydrates and firms skin.

2. Cleanse Your Skin with Tepid Water

Your skin may be sensitive post-peel, so wash your face with lukewarm water to prevent additional sensitivity.

3. Commit to Daily Sunscreen Use

Your skin is more sun-sensitive post-peel, so wear a broad-spectrum sunscreen 30+ to protect your skin from sunburn and sun damage.

Don’ts

1. Do Not Pick at Your Skin

If you peel, you can trim large pieces of skin with small, blunt, sterile scissors if needed.

2. Do Not Complicate Your Skin Care Routine

Keep your skin care routine simple after a professional peel. The goal post-peel is to keep your skin hydrated and protected. So, stick to a gentle cleanser, moisturizer, and broad-spectrum sunscreen.

* As a general rule of thumb, you can resume your usual skin care regimen roughly one week after a medium-depth peel and slightly longer for a deep peel. This varies based on your unique skincare needs and the products/ingredients you normally use. Once sensitivity subsides, it’s safe to resume active skincare ingredients / products.

3. Do Not Expose Yourself to Heat

Avoid heat sources or activities that crank up your body temperature for at-least 48 hours. This includes hot showers, saunas, hot tubs, intense workouts and sun exposure. Heat—especially when accompanied by sweating—can hinder recovery.

4. Seek Additional Cosmetic Procedures

Wait until your skin fully recovers before getting additional treatments like laser resurfacing, microdermabrasion, waxing or injectables.